WebP's browser compatibility story is essentially complete as of 2026. The long road from Google's 2010 release to universal browser support finally concluded in 2020 when Safari added WebP support, closing the last major gap.
Convert WebP for Non-Browser Apps
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Add to Chrome — FreeDesktop Browser Support
| Browser | WebP Support | Since Version | Year Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome | Full support | Version 23 | 2012 |
| Firefox | Full support | Version 65 | 2019 |
| Microsoft Edge | Full support | Version 18 (Chromium-based) | 2020 |
| Safari | Full support | Version 14 | 2020 |
| Opera | Full support | Version 12.1 | 2013 |
| Internet Explorer (all versions) | No support | Never | — |
| Edge Legacy (EdgeHTML) | Partial support | Partial in Edge 18 | 2018 |
Mobile Browser Support
| Browser / Platform | WebP Support | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome for Android | Full support | 2012 |
| Safari on iOS (iPhone/iPad) | Full support (iOS 14+) | 2020 |
| Firefox for Android | Full support | 2019 |
| Samsung Internet | Full support | 2016 |
| UC Browser | Full support | 2016 |
| Android WebView | Full support (Android 4.4+) | 2013 |
| iOS 13 and earlier Safari | No support | Never (pre-2020) |
The Safari Gap: The Long Road to Full Coverage
The most significant holdout in WebP's adoption story was Apple's Safari. For nearly a decade after WebP's release, Safari refused to implement support — meaning every iOS user (who cannot install alternate browser engines on iPhone/iPad) and a substantial portion of macOS users could not display WebP images natively.
This is why, even as Chrome (from 2011) and later Firefox (2019) and Edge Chromium (2020) fully supported WebP, web developers could not safely serve WebP to all visitors without a fallback. Safari was specifically the blocker.
Apple added WebP support in Safari 14, released September 16, 2020. This was the moment WebP became truly universally supported.
Global WebP Support Percentage
| Year | Approximate Global Support | Key Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | ~35% | Chrome only (large market share) |
| 2019 | ~79% | Firefox 65 adds support |
| 2020 | ~90% | Safari 14 and Edge Chromium add support |
| 2022 | ~94% | iOS 14+ adoption reaches majority |
| 2024 | ~96% | Continued legacy browser attrition |
| 2026 | ~97%+ | IE usage negligible; iOS 13 negligible |
Do You Still Need JPG Fallbacks?
The practical answer for 2026: it depends on your audience.
- Consumer websites and e-commerce: JPG fallbacks are technically unnecessary for 97%+ coverage, but the HTML
<picture>element makes them trivially easy to include. Still recommended as best practice. - Enterprise and corporate intranet sites: Some corporate environments run managed browsers or legacy software that may include older IE versions. Keep fallbacks.
- Government and accessibility sites: Typically serve diverse and older device demographics. Keep fallbacks.
- Email newsletters: Email clients use their own rendering engines, not browsers. WebP support in email is much lower than in browsers — always use JPG or PNG in email HTML.
WebP in Non-Browser Environments
Browser support is one thing; application support is another. In 2026, while browsers universally support WebP, many desktop applications, mobile apps, and system tools still have limited support:
- Windows 11 Photos app: Full WebP support
- Windows 10 Photos (updated): WebP support with codec installed
- macOS Preview (Ventura+): Full WebP support
- Adobe Photoshop CC 2022+: Full support
- Older Photoshop: No native support
- Figma, Sketch: No import support
- Print shops and production systems: Generally JPG/PNG only
When you download a WebP image and it will not open in an application, that is an application compatibility problem, not a browser compatibility problem. Converting to JPG or PNG solves it universally.
Open WebP in Any Application
Convert to JPG or PNG. Universal compatibility with every app on every platform.
Install WebP Converter — FreeRelated Guides
- Why Google Uses WebP
- WebP Not Supported? How to Fix It for Any App
- WebP in Email Newsletters: Compatibility Issues
- WebP Image Quality Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all modern browsers support WebP in 2026?
Yes. Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari 14+, Opera, and all major mobile browsers support WebP. Global browser coverage exceeds 97%. Internet Explorer does not support WebP but has under 0.5% global usage.
Does Internet Explorer support WebP?
No. IE never added WebP support and Microsoft ended IE support in June 2022. IE usage is now under 0.5% globally, making IE compatibility considerations negligible for most websites.
When did Safari add WebP support?
Safari 14, released September 16, 2020, with iOS 14 and macOS Big Sur. This was the last major browser holdout — completing universal WebP browser coverage.
Do I still need JPG fallbacks for WebP on websites?
For most consumer websites in 2026, no — but they remain best practice and are trivially easy to implement with the HTML picture element. Keep fallbacks for enterprise/corporate/government sites with potentially older managed browser environments, and always use JPG (never WebP) for email images.
Does WebP work on all Android devices?
Yes. Chrome for Android has supported WebP since 2012. Android WebView supports WebP since Android 4.4 (2013). All Android devices in active use support WebP in all major browsers.
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